Wednesday, July 27, 2011

This is an alphabetical list of terms and so on that crop up on this blog, and elsewhere on the internet, that refer to ASMR. This might help you when it comes to interpreting a lot of what you read on the subject.

Feel free to add your own in the comments, and I might just add them in some time! Remember to not only include a term, but also a description if possible. Indeed, this list isn’t complete and will likely be edited/updated in the future.

AIE – Attention-Induced Euphoria; other term for ASMR.
AIHO – Attention-Induced Head Orgasm; other term for ASMR.
AIOEU – Attention-Induced Observant Euphoria; other term
for ASMR. Ascension – When an experiencer “levels up”.
Usually this means that control of ASMR has improved, or that experiences are
much more intense. ASMR – Autonomous Sensory Meridian
Response; the most commonly used unofficial official acronym for the phenomenon.
Asmer or Asmerian – person who experiences
ASMR.Awakening – the point where an experiencer realises they have
ASMR. Braingasm –
casual or colloquial term for ASMR. Buzz or
buzzing – Colloquial terms for ASMR. Celestial
Wash – Colloquial term for ASMR, related to more spiritual theories.
Chaser – Someone who will go to great lengths to experience ASMR, particularly when
fading. Chills – colloquial term for Frisson, a
phenomenon perhaps related to ASMR in some manner. Click or
Clicking – refers to “Amygdala Clicking”, which some refer to
ASMR as. Crackle or Crackling – colloquial
term for ASMR. Community – term used to describe the ASMR
Group on all network sites. Dopamine – thought to be the anti-ASMR chemical in the
brain, acting as a precursor to adrenalin. Echo – see
wave. Ecstasy – the wonderful tingling feeling
that accompanies, and identifies ASMR. Empathy – thought to
be a common contributing trigger, particularly with Type A ASMR, but also
possible with Type B.
Enhancer – tactic that experiencers use to prolong or
intensify ASMR events, such as stroking the skin, or exposing themselves to the
cold. Enjoyer – person who experiences ASMR, with a more
positive connotation. Euphorian –person who experiences ASMR.Event – When ASMR takes place.Evoker – name for a person who creates trigger videos. Experiencer – A person who experiences ASMR.
Fade or Fading – ASMR events become less
frequent and/or intense, sometimes ceasing entirely.Frequency – Similar or related to syncing; being on a
frequency – as regards ASMR, or the same frequency as another experiencer. Frisson – Phenomenon thought to be either the same thing as
ASMR, or related in some way. Goose Looping – casual or
colloquial term for ASMR. Goose Bumps – may sometimes
accompany ASMR, particularly when it progresses beyond the head and neck area,
and in to other parts of the body. Hairgasm – casual or
colloquial term for ASMR. Halo – Descriptive term for ASMR;
the tingling on the scalp feels like a halo. Happening –
When ASMR takes place. Headgasm – casual or colloquial term
for ASMR. Hit – When ASMR takes place.
Hotspot – see source.
Hypnosis – ASMR is believed by some, due to similar
“symptoms”, to be akin to a light form of hypnosis. Incidental
trigger – a trigger which is not meant to produce ASMR; it’s believed
by some that most triggers encountered are incidental.
Inducer – another name for a vessel.
Intentional trigger – when a trigger is supposed to produce
ASMR, or is created by someone with the intent of triggering ASMR in another
person. Narcolepsy – believed to possibly be linked to
ASMR. Some experiencers have been diagnosed as being narcoleptic – meaning that
they have a tendency to fall asleep in relaxing situations, and perhaps
inappropriate places.Nervalanche - combination of two words: nerve and avalanche.
Colloquial term for ASMR. Network – refers to the collection of
sites dedicated to ASMR. Occurrence – When ASMR takes
place, or could refer to a trigger. Phenomenon – term often
used on this blog to refer to ASMR. Responder – refers to
how well someone responds to triggers. Some experience strong reactions; others
weak reactions. Ripple – see wave.
Rusher – Someone who preaches about ASMR; talks about it constantly. Sanctuary – a place where asmers congregate or meet;
somebody’s house.Satiation – When one can no longer experience for a time,
likely due to overexposure. This period can last hours, days, or even longer. Seeker – see chaserSensation – Refers in this case to ASMR.
Sensillation(s) – combination of two words: sense and
titillation. Used occasionally to refer to ASMR.Sensor(s) – another term for an experiencer. Serotonin – thought to be the chief contributing chemical in
the brain which when secreted acts as a precursor to ASMR events.
Source – a place, such as a library, where ASMR events are
often experienced. Spark or Sparking –
colloquial term for ASMR, particularly when an event begins.
Spell – linked in a way to incidental triggers. When a
person knows that you are experiencing, and/or actively tries to trigger ASMR it
might “break the spell”, and the sensation might be less intense, or not
experienced at all. Spotting or track spotting
– when an experiencer points out a specific moment in a song or movie
that triggers; particularly popular on websites such as YouTube, and sometimes
accompanied by annotations such as “3:33”. Synaesthesia –
thought to be linked to ASMR in some way; what we experience might be a type of
synaesthesia. “The production of a sense impression relating to one sense or
part of the body by stimulation of another sense or part of the body.” (COED)
Sufferer – humorous term for experiencer, with an ironic,
negative connotation. Sync or Synchronise
– when asmers claim to experience ASMR at the same time.
Surge or Surging – Colloquial terms for
ASMR. Tingles or Tingling – Common
colloquial terms for ASMR. Trigger – usually refers to Type
B ASMR, where an external or outside occurrence influences ASMR. Although
triggers could serve to cause the sensation in Type A experiencers, where it
would be more of a psychological or abstract form; coming from within.
Trigger Immunity – When a visual or audio trigger fails to
stimulate ASMR, perhaps due to overexposure; one builds up a sort of tolerance
level. Trigger video - often found on social networking
sites like YouTube. These are videos that trigger ASMR in a person. Videos that
don’t are not trigger videos, obviously. Tune or
Tuning – Term used for when you feel an ASMR event begin to
take place. Type A – refers to a person who experiences
ASMR without external triggers, such as when thinking about a past event, or
meditating. Type B – refers to someone who experiences ASMR
during, or after a trigger takes place, usually stimulating one of the senses,
usually touch, sight, and hearing; less commonly taste and smell.
Vessel – an individual who triggers ASMR in experiencers.
For example, Bob Ross. Wave – term used to describe or
related to intensity of an ASMR episode. One feels waves of tingles on the scalp
that ebb and flow.Whisperer – name for a person who creates trigger videos,
specifically whisper videos. WHS – Weird Head Sensation; other term
for ASMR.

Monday, July 18, 2011

I was kind of shocked to see this yesterday evening when I was online. I happened to be over on the ASMR Facebook Group, when I read a post on the wall. It appears that at some point recently, a page dedicated to ASMR was put up on Wikipedia.

The subject has come up several times in the past on “when will there be a page about this on Wikipedia?”. I had avoided doing this in the past as I was rather sure that Wikipedia, with its “high” standards and moderation, would probably take anything ASMR-related down, seeing as it hasn’t been thoroughly researched. But it turns out that this hasn’t happened yet. The article is considered as a “stub” however, in its present state, but according to at least one other community member, it’s looking better since the last time he or she visited it.

All we have to hope for is that the article doesn’t get taken down.

I commented on this discovery on Facebook and Twitter, and as I explained before, I’ve been out of the loop, so to speak, and I’m still getting back up to speed with some things after my hiatus back in May and June. For instance, I need to re-subscribe to all the news feeds I was following in the past regarding ASMR. I was much more "on the ball" a while back.

Apparently it was started by an unknown individual, and I've since learned that Envelope, AKA Jenn, actually expanded on the existing Wikipedia page. I don't know long ago it was put up (from my estimate, within the last month and a half). If you are reading this, and are responsible or know something about it, make sure to leave a comment. I’m glad that some within the community are putting in some extra effort. I just need to know the exact details – I’m sure others would too.

For the time being, check out the article, and maybe even pitch in and add something if you think it’s necessary. I’ll be adding the link to my Hotspots section here on the blog, as well as all other appropriate places, like the HubPages article, probably.

From here, I was thinking that we might also start a place on Wikia or something similar, where you can have more than one page - a whole wiki, as it were - and really go more in depth on a lot of things.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Among some of the shows I often watch on DStv over here, include the survival shows on offer.

You know which ones I mean: Ultimate Survival with Bear Grylls, Bushcraft with Ray Mears, Survivor Man with Les Stroud. There are several reasons as to why these shows work as triggers for me.
One is because the hosts often whisper in to the camera at the audience at home, such as when they don’t want to alert a predatory animal in the vicinity – or even their prospective dinner. And as we all know, whispering is one of the most effective ASMR triggers out there.

But I find it also has a lot to do with the people themselves. All of these men are well-travelled – they’ve been all over the world, and have put themselves in some precarious situations, in some dangerous places. They aren’t nasty, arrogant or self-centred – even amidst all the not-so-recent revelations in the media about Bear Grylls’ sleeping habits when out in the wild.

The world doesn’t revolve around them, and they are conscious of this. They are seemingly good, humble beings who respect nature, and people – particularly the tribes and the like they come across on their journeys; all in their quest to satiate our curiosity and the need to know more.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Well, like I promised, here is the new poll. This one will run from early July, for 3 months, until early October – approximately 90 days.

So this time, I thought we would talk about another common topic of discussion within the group. We’ll be delving in to the effectiveness of digital media. What this means, is that we want to know if you get ASMR from watching YouTube videos, TV, listening to music, or the radio, etc. Even though plenty of those in the community do, and have no qualms about recommending videos and music tracks to others – there are several at least who don’t or cannot experience ASMR while watching or listening to any sort of digital media.

And the options for you to vote on are:

Yes, all the time - Digital media of your choosing, or which is recommended to you by others within the community, will without fail, trigger your ASMR.

Sometimes - It might be a more uncommon or rare thing for you to experience ASMR while watching or listening to digital media. You’re very picky when it comes to trigger videos or tracks. Recommendations from others seldom work.

I only get it from certain digital media (eg. either music or videos, but not both) – You could spend all day watching videos online and not get a “hit” at all. But as soon as you listen to the radio or play your favourite track of the moment, it starts flowing.

No, I don’t – You don’t experience ASMR from any digital media at all. It’s only triggered when you speak to someone in person or watch or listen to something in real life, and not online or from any other digital source.

So that’s it. Read through this post, and then find the poll on the right sidebar as usual. Then vote, obviously. Have fun!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Wow, I can hardly believe that's it been just more than 3 months since the poll was started. But I haven't forgotten - I need to publish the results of the poll, even though they are visible on the right sidebar of this blog.

So, we had the question that needed answering, and that was whether you thought ASMR and "chills" are the same thing.

Let's see how you voted:

Out of 16 people in total, 1 person (6%) voted for "Yes, they are the same thing".1 other person voted, saying that chills relates only to music, and isn't the same thing as what we have come to know ASMR.
Then we have 6 people (37% - just over a third) who voted, saying that they are not the same thing; completely different.
And then the largest percentage of votes were cast by 8 people (50% - half) who said that they may well be related in some way.

So that's that poll. Thanks to all who voted, and stay tuned for the next poll which should be up soon! I have a good idea for what to base it on.

Site Updates

These are just mini-updates that I was too lazy or busy to make a post for. They also list changes or additions that have been made to the blog, for interest's sake and to follow how the blog is developing.